Game apparatus.



J. D. NIELSON. GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED ocr. 29; 19x?.

Patented June 11, 1918.l

Fiy

A fr0/Mfrs JOHN D.' NIELSON, 0F LYNDHURSI NEW JERSEY.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.I Patented Jun 11 1918.

Application mea october 2s, 1917. serial No. 199,132.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. NIELsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lyndhurst, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Game Apparatus,` of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in View are: to provide an amusement apparatus havingk an educational feature; to promote interest in history and geography while affording amusement; and to simplify the construction and cheapen the cost of a game apparatus for accomplishing the purposes above stated.

Drawings.

Figure l is a top plan view of a gameboard constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same, the section being taken as on the line 2-2 in Fie. 1

Eig.73 is a longitudinal section of the same, the section being taken as on the line 3-3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detail View on an enlarged scale and in section, showing the apparatus by which the game is played, the section being taken as on the line 4 4 in Fig. 1.

Description.

As seen in the-drawings, a wooden block 9 has formed therein, preferably by routing, a series of channels 10, 11, 12, 13, 111 and 15. The channels 11 to 15, inclusive, terminate in round pockets or chambers 16, 17 18, 19 and 20. The above-mentioned channels are separated by vertical walls or partitions all terminating at the top of the block and opening on to a ield 21 to afford access therefrom for a rolling object, such as a ball 22, when the same is ejected from a toy cannon, which, as shown in the drawings, is permanently located at the lower end of the channel 10.

The eld 21 communicates with an inner field 23 by means of a passage, at one side whereof is a blind channel 24. Opening from the eld 23 at either side thereof, are

other blind channels 25 and 26. The channels 25 and 26 are located at opposite sides to the entrance of channels 27, 28 and 29,

respectively. The channels 27, 28 and .29 lead into pockets 30, 31 and 32.

As indicated, the game is `played with a rolling object, such as the ball 22. One vor more such balls may be used and when inactive are held in a square recess or pocket 33.

The various pockets 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 30, 31 and 32 have assigned thereto and preferably provided thereon, the names of towns and districts located or situated in some country.

The game when played has a military signiiicance, such that the object in firing the ball 22 from the cannon 40, is to bombard some one of the cities or fortifications named. The ball 22 passes up through the channel 10 into the field 21, where due to the curved wall at the upper boundary of said field, the ball is partially returned toward the various channels 1l to 15 and 30 to 32, respectively.

It will be found that some skill as well as chance becomes a factor in the successful contest promoted by the game, which lends an added interest thereto. The educational interest which is promoted is intensified by the fact that the military signicance is associated with the campaign in which the towns or'fortiied locations have a nearing.

The geographical interest is naturally promoted by curiosity awakened in the player as to the actual location of the city, town or district indicated by the means of the various pockets.

The chance of the ball passing into the blind channels 24, 25 and 26, adds the element of failure to the' game, it being intended that whenthe ball is arrested in any of these channels, the play is lost to the player, as the failure in an attack ina military campaign is lost in the endeavor to subdue any point.

To induce the ball22 or other rolling object to seek` the various channels and pockets enumerated, the block 9 is raised at the upper end by means of the rail 34. The block 9 is provided with wedge-shaped side pieces 35.

The pleasure of the game is promoted by providing the cannon with a spring-actuated plunger 36. The plunger 36 has a handle or knob 37, which is engaged by the player to retract said plunger against the expansion of the vspiral spring 38. When and as the plunger 86 is retracted from under the tubular turret 39 in WhichV the ball 22 is deposited, Said ball falls into the barrel of the cannoli and because of the uptilt of the block 9 and cannon which is iXedly attached thereto, the ball rolls back to the retracted position to rest against the plunger 36. W hen now the player releases the knob 37, the spring 38 projects the plunger 36 and ejects with varied Violence,

the ball 22 for its ight up the channel 10.

Claim.

Af's an article of manufacture, a game apparatus comprising a Solid block having formed therein a series of open-ended channels, the ends of said channels converging upon a lield portion, the floor-of said ield portion being flush with the bottoms of said channels, one of said channels having a curved Wall for the delivery of a rolling ball, the delivery end of said Wall having a return curve for projecting the ball upon said field portion, the Walls of said channels being' integral with said block and the upper edges of said Walls being flush with the upper surface of said block. f

JOHN l). NIELSON.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washingtun, I). G. 

